Electrical interconnect system for multiple flexible circuits
US5533904A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 9, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05K2203/167
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved interconnect system for an inkjet printer. The inventive interconnect system includes first and second unitary flexible circuits having first and second sets of contacts, respectively, for providing first and second electrical interconnections, respectively. The first and second flexible circuits are aligned and retained so that contacts thereon engage corresponding contacts disposed on a rigid support. In a specific implementation, the first flexible circuit is aligned by a first set of pins arranged along a first axis and the flexible circuit is aligned by a second set of pins arranged along a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis. This arrangement allows for the alignment and mounting of two flexible circuits on a single printer carriage without a substantial increase in the width thereof. The first flexible circuit may be used to connect the inkjet pens to the electronic drive circuit and the second flexible circuit may be used to connect a paper sensor or other device to the electronic circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.